CHANDIGARH: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government was “killing” all institutions in the country to ensure his image across the world was “strong”.
“BJP is killing all small businesses to ensure that his corporate friends are happy,” he said.
Gandhi was adressing the media on the third day of his ‘Kheti Bachao Yatra’ from Circuit House in Patiala. Gandhi, along with senior state Congress leaders, is holding a series of tractor rallies across Punjab to protest the Centre’s new farm laws.
“We will also take legal recourse and a session will soon be summoned,” the CM said in the presence of Gandhi.
Answering a question as to why Punjab should trust Rahul he said that following the 1977 election—that his grandmother Indira Gandhi lost—he and his mother Sonia Gandhi were protected by Sikhs.
“I am indebted and thankful to them forever,” Gandhi said.
Gandhi said farmers were hit the worst and had taken to the roads to protest. The senior Congress leader alleged that the BJP had “bought” all institutions that lead to poor decisions and the Chinese intrusion.
Gandhi said the opposition was not only threatened but also arm-twisted to break thier unity.
Before his tractor rallies, Gandhi visited the Hathras victim’s family on his second attempt after being dramatically stopped outside Delhi by UP police.
Gandhi said he visited the family wanted them to know that they are not alone.
Gandhi attacked the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday, saying Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath should have the decency to call the alleged gang rape and killing of a Dalit woman in Hathras district a “tragedy”.
Gandhi, who is holding a series of tractor rallies under his ‘Kheti Bachao Yatra’ in Punjab to protest the Centre’s new farm laws, also took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he has not spoken “a word” on the Hathras incident.
“The CM of Uttar Pradesh should have the decency to say this is a tragedy and will look into it and will protect this family and this girl,” Gandhi told reporters here.
He was asked by a reporter for his reaction over the UP government reportedly saying that there was an “international conspiracy” to defame it.
“Yogi ji is entitled to his opinion. He is more than welcome to imagine whatever he wants to imagine. What I saw there was that a lovely girl was molested, her neck was broken, her family was threatened and the people who did it, no action was taken against them,” he said.
“If Yogi ji sees it as an international conspiracy, well that is fine, that is his prerogative. What I saw was a tragedy,” said Gandhi.
“My political path would have been easy had I not been opposing the government vehemently at all things I think are wrong,” he added.
Gandhi said the Congress manifesto was clear in wanting to develop a farmer’s market every four km.
Partap Singh Bajwa, who has been a vocal critic of the state government led by Capt Amarinder Singh, also found a place on the stage accompanied by cabinet ministers Brahm Mohindra and Vijayinder Singla.
President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill; Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill; and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, which were passed by the Parliament last month.